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Appointed - Dr. Cherie Kinnersley
Sep 26, 2025
Oct 24, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
On behalf of Dr. Michelle Kleiss, Head of School of the American School of Warsaw, Poland, we are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Cherie Kinnersley as Upper School Principal beginning July 2026.
Michelle shared the following in her announcement to the ASW community:
Dr. Kinnersley brings a wealth of experience, a passion for student-centered education, and a collaborative leadership approach that is perfectly aligned with ASW’s mission and values.
Cherie began her teaching career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Savusavu, Fiji. She then moved back to the USA and spent another 15 years teaching secondary science (grades 6-12). It was during this time that she became a Nationally Board-Certified Teacher. National Board is an advanced teaching certification that demonstrates the highest standards of professional teacher practice. This rigorous, performance-based certification demonstrates instructional expertise and unwavering dedication to continuous improvement and student achievement. She is experienced in instructional coaching, teacher evaluation, policy development, community engagement, and leading professional learning communities.
Dr. Kinnersley moved into leadership and the principalship and committed ten years to IB MYP and IB DP schools in Oregon, USA. She served as a Middle School Principal in the Portland Public School District, where she successfully guided the school through the IB MYP candidacy process, including the creation of new interdisciplinary courses. She served as a Vice Principal at another IB DP World School, where she supported alignment of the IBDP program. For the past five years, Dr Kinnersley has served as both Secondary Principal and School Director at Chiang Mai International School in Thailand.
During her interview, Cherie noted that she looked forward to returning to a Principal role and using the experienced she gained as a Superintendent to once again address the unique needs of adolescent learners, contributing to ASW’s mission of developing students’ skills and mindsets to be future changemakers.
Dr. Kinnersley earned her B.S. in Biology from Oregon State University, her M.S. in Science Education from Florida international University, and her Ed.D. in Administrative Leadership from Concordia University,
As she prepares to join ASW’s Senior Leadership Team next summer, Cherie commented:
I am thrilled to join this wonderful community. Meeting students, families, and staff has been a joy, and I already feel welcome. The educational values of this institution align closely with my own, especially around inclusion and student-centered learning. I look forward to getting to know everyone and serving our students with care and commitment.
Search Associates would like to thank all of the candidates who applied for these positions and to everyone who assisted and supported the successful search process for the next Upper School Principal at the American School of Warsaw.
Warm regards,
Barbara & Eric
Please click here for full position details and application instructions.
